Hydrolytic degradation mass loss

Figure 4.4 Mass loss of copolymers P(LLA-co-TMC) with TMC/LLA ratios of 1/3 (PLT13), 1/4 (PLT14), 1/5 (PLT15), a composite of PLT15 with P(LLA-co-GA) fibres (PLT15C), and poly-L-lactide (PLLA) during hydrolytic degradation.

Diaz-Celorio et al. recently reported a systemic study on the hydrolytic degradation of P(TMC-co-GA) random copolymer, PGA-P(TMC-co-GA)-PGA segmented copolymers, and PGA-PTMC-PGA triblock copolymer having a TMC wt% close to that of Maxon (32.5%), together with a segmented copolymer having 23 wt% of TMC. The maximum molar mass loss occurred during the first 21 days. Afterwards, the molar mass decreased very slowly and an asymptotic value was reached after 42—55 days. 

Keywords Degradation mechanism Hydrolytic degradation Autocatalytic degradation Bulk erosion Surface erosion Strength and mass loss profile Critical device dimension Hydrolysis... 

On the other hand, pores enhance the alkaline and enzymatic surface hydrolytic degradation of aliphatic polyesters because of the increased surface area per unit mass of porous materials compared to that of nonporous materials [307]. Similar to this, the pores formed by the removal of water-soluble polymers such as poly(p-vinyl phenol) from PLLA/ water-soluble polymer blends accelerate the alkaline hydrolytic degradation of PLLA as traced by weight loss [249]. 

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